INEC suspends staff leave, warns against negligence ahead of 2027 polls

To guarantee that all staff are fully present for the organization of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has halted additional annual leave for its workforce. Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, the head of INEC, revealed this instruction on Friday while attending a readiness evaluation gathering in Lokoja, Kogi State. The meeting brought together commission officials from the North Central zone to evaluate the body's operational preparedness for the upcoming nationwide polls.

In addition to the leave suspension, the Chairman issued a stern warning to staff regarding professional conduct. According to him, staff members proven to be negligent, absent, financially corrupt, or politically biased will be subject to firm disciplinary actions. Amupitan called on the workforce to uphold rigorous discipline and dedication to their roles, instructing Resident Electoral Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries to implement attendance and responsibility protocols in every office. He emphasized that the commission must avoid deliberate errors and administrative lapses that could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

Background

The upcoming 2027 general elections are set to include over 103 million enrolled voters spread across 176,846 polling stations within Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The presidential and National Assembly elections are set for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections will follow on February 6. The North Central zone, where the meeting took place, is considered a critical bloc in determining political leadership, with 15.44 million registered voters in the region.

Amupitan noted that the commission must improve upon its performance in previous off-cycle elections held in Anambra, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, and the FCT. He acknowledged the difficult terrain and security challenges facing the commission but maintained that successful execution is a collective responsibility. To support this effort, INEC has implemented improved welfare packages, including the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure, which took effect on January 1, 2026. While funding for cash support is still being arranged, payments for salaries, hazard pay, and field stipends have gone up, with monthly operational budgets for state offices increasing by 150 per cent starting July 1, 2026.

Logistical enhancements include the distribution of operational pick-up vehicles to state and local government offices, the procurement of 20 new Sports Utility Vehicles for Resident Electoral Commissioners, and expected vehicle allocations for Administrative Secretaries. From a technical standpoint, INEC is setting up 57,000 recently acquired Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) units to improve the process of verifying voters. The body is currently reviewing its digital result handling tools, such as the eEC8A confirmation system, to guarantee the clear sending of outcomes to the INEC Result Viewing Portal. On the voter registration front, printable Permanent Voter Cards and a digital PVC Location Portal have been activated, with the certified voters’ register scheduled for publication on December 15, 2026.

Why it matters

The suspension of leave and the strict warnings against negligence are aimed at preventing the disenfranchisement of registered voters due to administrative or logistical failures. Amupitan highlighted the strategic importance of Nigeria’s elections, stating that a credible democratic process in Nigeria would resonate across Africa and counter narratives of the continent's decline. He argued that electoral credibility cannot be achieved through last-minute preparations or rhetoric but requires sustained planning, professional ethics, and technological investment. The commission is under pressure to deliver elections that earn the confidence of Nigerians, as the scale of the 2027 polls makes it a significant test of the country's democratic infrastructure.

What happens next

The certified voters’ register will be published on December 15, 2026, following the current availability of the preliminary register for public scrutiny. Staff are expected to remain on duty without annual leave until the elections are concluded. The commission will continue to enforce the new salary structures and logistical arrangements, with the presidential and National Assembly elections taking place in January 2027 and state-level elections in February 2027.